Paul Lynch

Major plan for 2,000 homes complete with a supermarket and school submitted to Daventry District Council

Residents fear boundaries of Moulton and Overstone would vanish

A total of 227 letters of objection received as villagers say the countryisde would be eroded

A plan to build 2,000 homes north east of Northampton has been recommended for approval despite fears a ‘tsunami’ of homes will swamp two villages.

The major development on land between Moulton and Overstone would include the building of a new section of the A43 to accommodate for the extra traffic it would create, a large superstore, a primary school, a pub, shops and up to 5,000 square metres of light industry.

Both Moulton and Overstone will lose their individual character and identity

Moulton Parish Council

But the proposals submitted to Daventry District Council by Barratt Developments Ltd have already received 227 letters of objection with many of the responses fearing that Overstone and Moulton would be effectively joined by the development.

One respondent wrote that a ‘tsunami of 2,000 homes’ would swamp Moulton and Overstone, while others say the buildings would swallow up acres of countryside currently protected by a number of Daventry District Council planning policies.

They also fear the plans would create enormous strain on the surrounding road network.

The plans are set to be voted on at the authority’s April 1 planning committee meeting.

But a report released ahead of that meeting shows the district council has recommended the outline planning application for the scheme is passed.

The report states that a “substantial package” of highway and public transport measures are proposed in order to mitigate the impact on the roads.

“Subject to appropriate planning conditions and obligations, it is considered that the application is acceptable and should be approved,” the report adds.

But the plans are set to face firm opposition at the April planning committee.

In a statement issued to Daventry District Council, Moulton Parish Council said that the 2,000 homes would mean “both Moulton and Overstone will lose their individual character and identity.”

The statement adds that the plan would effectively spread the ‘urban sprawl’ of Northampton borough into the countryside and the retail element of the plan would have an impact on the trading fortunes of shops.

Daventry District Council’s planning committee will vote on whether to pass the outline plans at the meeting on April 1 in the Daventry District Council main council chamber, in Lodge Road, Daventry, at 6.15pm.